The past few weekends I've had time to check out a couple spots for the upcoming season. One is on my stepdad's farm. It's a small bit of woods between two corn fields, a gas line on one side and a bit of a swampy area on the other. There's a small stream that runs through it. I put out a mineral block in hopes to get some more interest in the area. There were signs of activity but not much. I used my climber here last year and plan to again this year. The first three pictures are from last year, pre-season from up in my stand.

The second spot is a place that kind of fell into my lap via my lady friend's brother in law. His property has two lakes on it (far right edge of fourth picture). The spot I chose is about 100-150 yards from the house with some very active trails all through the area. There are corn fields further right/ east of the lakes, as well as game lands further off to the left/west of the picture. I went ahead and put a mineral block there as well to give them another source of nutrients/interest for the area. The girl friend and I put up a two-man ladder stand Saturday after we found the perfect tree. There are plenty of shooting lanes but it was too dark to get a good picture. I'll do that when I go get the mineral blocks at the start of September (have to be removed 30 days prior to the start of the PA season). My spot is about 100-150 yards from the house and about 100 yards to the left of the clearing just right of center in the picture.

I wish it were in the cards to have a trail cam or two on these spots this year but they'll have to wait another season. Tell me what you think, any other suggestions? I can't wait to be up in a tree again!